Surge of New Products Marks VeggieTales' 15th Anniversary

With Halloween just around the corner and all the frightful things that come with it, America’s favorite band of animated vegetables has a new DVD out that reminds kids how God is bigger than anything they might be afraid of.

But for those who are familiar with Big Idea’s best-selling animated series VeggieTales, the video title “Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?” is no stranger. It’s VeggieTales’ first-ever animated video title digitally remastered and released newly as the special 15th Anniversary DVD.

“It’s an exciting time at Big Idea and we are thrilled to be kicking-off VeggieTales 15th Anniversary celebration,” said Greg Fritz, SVP Marketing Big Idea, in a news release.

It has been 15 years since the world was introduced to Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and their band of anthropomorphic vegetable friends. Since then, VeggieTales has sold over 52 million videos and 13 million books.

As part of the 15th anniversary celebration, Big Idea has launched an expanded licensing and merchandising campaign.

This past summer, Random House published two new titles, LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space Little Golden Book and Lyle the Kindly Viking Little Golden Treasure. And this month, Pint Sized Productions, a leader in collectible plush, is expanding their VeggieTales line with an assortment of new Bob and Larry plush items.

Crossroads Apparel, meanwhile, will roll out new toddler and youth sized “The Pirates Who Don’t Do
Anything” and Christmas-themed t-shirts this fall. And VeggieTales is introducing a brand new line from Dicksons that includes over 10 new Christmas items including an assortment of VeggieTales-themed ornaments, stockings and snow globes.

“Our expanded licensing and merchandising program provides us with a wonderful opportunity to bring the unique VeggieTales brand of humor, Silly Songs and life lessons to an even wider audience,” explained Fritz.

Amid all the merchandise expansion, a 10-week live VeggieTales tour is hitting more than 40 cities throughout the United States and Canada. The “God Made You Special” tour, which kicked off in September, concludes Nov. 11 and is “really, really cool,” according to Larry the Cucumber.

"We've got bubbles, smoke machines, disco balls, awesome lights, interactive video screens, confetti cannons, and bubbles,” he exclaimed in a press release. “Bob and I along with all of our Veggie friends come out on stage and give the kids our best show ever! Did I mention the bubbles?"

"We are thrilled to be able bring this highly anticipated tour to so many top cities across the U.S.," added Leslie Ferrell, Big Idea Interim General Manager. "The interactive performance is full of uplifting themes and your favorite silly songs, making this high quality production the perfect entertainment event for young children who may be attending a live show for the first time."

Aside from VeggieTales, Big Idea also maintains an extensive presence in publishing, licensing and live entertainment arenas. The Entertainment Rights group company is a leading faith-based studio and producer of children's and family programming, characters and brands.